The 2026 European Adventist Youth Congress gathered almost 3,500 participants from around 50 countries for five days of spiritual reflection, active discussion, and social, art, and sports activities in and around Valencia, Spain. Participants sang, prayed, and studied the Bible together while getting to know other young people with similar interests, dreams, and goals.

The opening program on August 4, 2026, welcomed participants to Valencia and Spain with a cultural program, congregational singing, and reflection and prayer. The evening’s main speaker, Damian Chandler, a pastor and marriage and family therapist, led participants to accept God's invitation to the table.

Based on Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep and his experience as a husband and father of three, Chandler emphasized that God does not forget His sheep, because “we are His, no matter what.” He explained, “A shepherd didn’t just visit His sheep—He lived with them…It was a relationship…He was willing to risk His life for His sheep.”

In the same way, “God knows us individually,” Chandler said. “And He knows when one of His sheep is missing.” He prayed that when God called the name of each participant, they would come.

Keynote speaker Ivana Mendez presented on August 5.

“You didn’t need to come to Valencia to listen to the message that you were made for more,” Mendez said. The question, however, is “What is that ‘more’?” she asked.

Based on the Bible story of God calling Abraham, Mendez used the next half hour to explain what that “more” means and why it’s important—especially for young people—not to settle for less.

Mendez reminded thousands of participants that God is faithful and fulfills His promises.

“What God offered to Abraham and is offering to us is unique—a covenantal relationship with Him, of which He alone is the guarantor…No other god that is out there is offering anything like this.”

Throughout the event, participants were able to choose from dozens of workshops on topics related to theology, faith and science, relationships, and witnessing. They could also attend other workshops connected with creativity as a way to express faith, the use of technology for growth and mission, and discipleship.

Organizers also added a Masterclass category, where “some of Europe’s best theology teachers” taught “their very best class” during the event. These classes “are an opportunity to explore Scripture in greater depth,” organizers said, “and discover what studying theology is really like.”

Plenaries, workshops, and activities were designed to reinforce the idea that every one of us was made for more, especially in light of God’s plan for our individual lives and His calling on each one of us to follow His will.

Adventist scientist and professor Noemi Duran leads a workshop on “How to Survive as a Christian Science Student in the 21st Century”

Photo: Marcos Paseggi

One of more than 300 small groups participates in a discussion on God’s call to Abraham as depicted in Genesis and Hebrews.

Photo: Marcos Paseggi

Participant Kreeta Helminen reads from the Bible in Finnish before the morning devotional on August 5.

Photo: Marcos Paseggi

Participants sing on the opening night of the 2026 Adventist Youth Congress on August 4.

Photo: Marcos Paseggi

The original article was published on the Trans-European Division news site.